Master of Business Administration

Degree Requirements

The University�s general degree requirements are discussed here.

The MBA degree is obtained by completing a 53-hour program beyond prerequisite courses (see section above) consisting of 29 hours of core courses and 24 hours of elective courses. At the option of the student, a concentration may be developed by taking a set of electives related to an area of interest. Students may obtain further information about these concentrations from the School of Management Advising Office.

Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average in both core courses and in aggregate courses to qualify for the MBA degree.

Core Courses (29hours) 

Each candidate must satisfactorily complete the following core of 11 courses.
AIM 6201 Financial Accounting
AIM 6202 Managerial Accounting
BPS 6310 Strategic Management
FIN 6301 Financial Management
IMS 5200 Global Business
MIS 6204 Information Technology and MIS Fundamentals
MECO 6303 Business Economics
MKT 6301 Introduction to Marketing Management
OPRE 6301 Quantitative Introduction to Risk and Uncertainty in Business
OPRE 6302 Operations Management
OB 6301 Organizational Behavior

Elective Courses (24hours) 

Each candidate must also complete an additional 24 hours of elective graduate course work. Students may develop a concentration within the 24 hours of electives, but are not required to do so. Students cannot include more than 15 hours in any single functional area (demarcated by the area prefix) beyond the required core courses. A student may elect to submit a Master�s thesis, which counts as three elective credit hours.

Concentrations are informal collections of electives that address a student�s educational goals. A concentration may be aligned with functional area specialties, or may cut across functional areas. Students are encouraged to develop their concentration with the help of a faculty member, area coordinator, or the Advising Office. Typical concentrations include:

Accounting and Information Management: In today�s global and technology-driven environment, managers need skills to effectively analyze accounting information and make value-enhancing decisions. Students may select accounting and information management (AIM) courses to concentrate in financial analysis, consulting, corporate governance and tax management.

Finance:   Prepares students for careers in corporate finance, investment management, or the management of financial institutions.  The curriculum emphasizes creative solutions to business financing problems, the development of value maximizing investment and financing strategies, and the analysis and management of fixed income and equity investments.  Students may choose to concentrate in  either corporate financial planning or the analysis of financial securities and investment portfolios.

Information Systems: Information Technology permeates all aspects of modern business and our courses will enable you to make the most of information technology to solve business problems and gain strategic advantage. We also provide advanced courses for students who wish to be on the �supply� side of information technology in the areas of IT consulting, software management, and e-business.

Operations Management:  Leaning how to use operations effectively to create and sustain competitive advantages.  Students  gain a deeper and analytical understanding of how challenges posed by a fast and continuously developing business environment can be morphed into profit-making opportunities. Effective integration of various parties (suppliers, factories, stores) and various functional areas (marketing, finance, procurement) is an important theme.  In particular, incentives, contracts and information technologies fostering collaboration among financially independent parties are emphasized.   

Marketing: Learning to satisfy the needs of a firm�s customers while making a profit. In order to do that, one must not only understand customers� needs and purchase behaviors but also understand the competition. This knowledge helps a manager develop an effective marketing strategy. Then one needs to learn to develop new products successfully, and manage the different brands, and product categories. In managing products, students can acquire expertise in pricing, in advertising and promotions, in market research, and in retailing strategies. In addition, students can learn about recent developments on the Internet and its effect on marketing and business.

Strategic Management: This concentration focuses on corporate level strategic management, including implementation of strategic designs; top management team leadership; the strategic implications of the social, governmental, technological, and international environments; organization structuring; and strategic alliances. Students will learn how to integrate accounting, finance, economics, and organization theory to create sustainable competitive advantage.

 

Leadership in Organizations: The leadership concentration is designed to prepare students for upper management positions through the study of the psychological, sociological, and organizational behavior disciplines. The program provides a foundation of leadership theory, building and problem solving in interpersonal work relationships, group dynamics, organizational decision making and change, and ethics.

 

International Management: In this concentration, students will take a multi-disciplinary approach to the study of international management, with courses in finance, marketing, strategic management, and the legal and cross-cultural differences that effect business. This course of study will prepare students for careers in international industries.

 

Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Focused on the processes of technological innovation in both large and small organizations, this multidisciplinary sequence of courses seeks to prepare students for successful careers either as principals or key functional managers in emerging growth firms, or as leaders of technological innovation in established firms. These concentrations include three required and two elective courses in the field.

 

Healthcare Administration:The primary goal of this concentration is to prepare students for leadership positions in healthcare organizations.The healthcare concentration is cross-functional and industry focused.Courses will contain cases, projects, and assignments that are centered around applying management skills to healthcare issues and organizations.Classes are taught by School of Management faculty and healthcare executives who bring special expertise and experience to the program.